Brady: Forget the suspensions

Robbie Brady has told his Republic of Ireland team-mates to forget the fear of suspension as they attempt to take a foothold in their World Cup play-off with Denmark.

The Republic head into Saturday evening’s game in Copenhagen with nine men – Darren Randolph, Cyrus Christie, Shane Duffy, Ciaran Clark, Stephen Ward, Glenn Whelan, Harry Arter, Aiden McGeady, James McClean and Daryl Murphy – one card away from a ban which would rule them out of Tuesday’s second leg in Dublin.

Denmark too will walk something of a tightrope with 10 players in a similar position, although Brady, who himself has already served two suspensions during the campaign, insists that cannot be on their minds.

He said: “There are a few going into the game tomorrow on yellow cards. I don’t think you can concentrate too much on that.

“We’ve got a job to do – get that done first and foremost and go from there. But hopefully we can avoid any more yellows. It would be helpful.”

Denmark in focus

FORM

Since losing back-to-back qualifiers in Poland and at home to Montenegro in October last year, Denmark’s from has been hugely impressive. They went unbeaten in their remaining seven Group E games to finish second behind Poland, who they defeated 4-0 in Copenhagen in September, and were only denied a fifth successive qualifier victory against Romania last time out by Ciprian Deac’s 88th-minute equaliser.

COACH

Age Hareide is well known to O’Neill, who was the Norwegian’s captain during their time together as players at Norwich. A tax accountant by trade, the 64-year-old former Molde, Manchester City, Canaries and Norway defender has won league titles as a coach in Sweden, Denmark and his native country, who he took to the play-offs for the 2006 World Cup finals.

TACTICS

Hareide has employed a series of formations during the campaign to date, switching between a back three and a back four, but preferring the latter in recent games. However, his team more often than not revolves around midfield playmaker Christian Eriksen sitting in the hole behind a front two or three.

PLAYERS

Tottenham schemer Eriksen is the star of the Danish side and as well as pulling the strings for others, he contributed eight of their 20 goals during the group stage, three of them from the penalty spot. However, keeper Kasper Schmeichel, central defender and skipper Simon Kjaer and holding midfielders William Kvist and Thomas Delaney are also mainstays of the team, while former Arsenal frontman Nicklas Bendtner started against Romania.

Welcome, everyone…

Martin O’Neill is backing his Republic of Ireland players’ “inner self-belief” to see them through their World Cup qualifying showdown with Denmark.

The Republic take on the Danes in the first leg of their winner-takes-all tie in Copenhagen tonight having won their last two play-offs and confident they have what it takes to complete a hat-trick.

O’Neill said: “Through experience, the players have matured. I think there’s a good belief in the camp that maybe didn’t exist a couple of seasons ago.

“It’s an inner self-belief. It’s not one that is flaunted, it’s an inner self-belief that we can come out and compete.

“We know what we have to do, we know we must compete for almost everything at every given minute and while every single international side has limitations somewhat, we are going to try to stay as strong as we possibly can and play to our strengths, which is the most important thing.

“It’s something we do, use that experience we’ve had in the last couple of years to some good effect, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”

O’Neill and his players arrived in Denmark under no illusions about the size of the task ahead of them as the Danes are ranked 19th by FIFA, seven places above the Republic.

However, the two-legged victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina which booked their place at the Euro 2016 finals remains fresh in the memory.

Midfielder Robbie Brady is hoping they can draw on the experience of a priceless 1-1 draw in Zenica – as well as famous victories over Germany, Italy and Wales – over the next few days.

Brady said: “Over the last couple of years, we’ve shown in big games what we’re capable of producing. The lads who were there a couple of years ago can use anything from that night.

“To go in with the belief when you’re that close to a World Cup, it’s there for the taking for both sides. If we can take anything from that game, it will be belief.”

Denmark boss Age Hareide knows exactly what to expect from the Republic and the spirit they will have to break to get past them, although Brady insists that will be easier said than done.

He said: “They can try, but we’ll see. We’re ready. We’ve done our homework and we’re prepared, so we’ll have to wait and see.”